![[ beyond mcdonald's ]](../beyond_pix/beyond.gif)
Colgate-Palmolive in the McSpotlight
Colgate-Palmolive in the McSpotlight
| What's Wrong With Colgate-Palmolive? | Opposition & Campaigns | Company Profile |
|
Colgate-Palmolive
is an $8.7 billion company, which markets its products in over 200 countries.
It has subsidiaries in; Angola, Colombia, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Peru,
the Philippines, Senegal, Sri Lanka and Turkey amongst others.Their main
brand names include: Colgate, Palmolive, Ajax, Fab, Mennen, Hill's Science
Diet and Hill's Prescription Diet.
Colgate-Palmove is part of the chemicals industry. It is not only the specific practices of individual companies that cause problems. The attitudes created by the currrent system of exploitation gives power and profits to the few, at the expense of people, animals and the environment. It is important to expose the unethical practices of specific companies as their behaviour is often indicative of the entire system. |
 |
Supporting brutal / repressive regimes During the apartheid years, Colgate had subsidiaries in South Africa and in 1990 had a 27% share in the South African detergents market. [The Ethical Consumer Guide to Everyday Shopping published by the Ethical Consumer Research Association. ] |
 |
Colgate has been criticised for anti-union practices against SINTRACOLPA, a union at one of its plants in Colombia. Included in the accusations are that the company offered higher remuneration and benefits to non-union members and then, in April and May 1990, suspended union leaders who had protested against these discriminatory measures. [The Ethical Consumer Guide to Everyday Shopping published by the Ethical Consumer Research Association. ] |
![[ CHAINSAW LOGO ]](../beyond_pix/environment.gif) |
In March 1992 thousands of protesters took to the streets of Mexico City to protest against the polluting practices and excessive water consumption of the company's local factory. Demands for relocation of the plant to outside the city have been made by local officials amongst others and have so far been ignored. Talks with local citizens were called off in November 1991. [The Ethical Consumer Guide to Everyday Shopping published by the Ethical Consumer Research Association. ] |
 |
Colgate-Palmolive has animal testing undertaken for it by outside contractors. A few years ago, BUAV uncovered details of an experiment carried out for the company by Columbia University in which guinea pigs were locked into small plastic tubes and a strong solution of surfactant was applied for four hours a day for three days, causing cracked and bleeding skin on the animals. [The Ethical Consumer Guide to Everyday Shopping published by the Ethical Consumer Research Association. ] |
Exploitation and profiteering do not need to exist. A better way of running our lives can be created based on the sharing of resources and on respect for each other and for nature. Increasingly people are questioning and challenging those with power and are seeking alternatives. Let's hope it's possible to make a difference.
| Company Profile Products and brandnames: Shampoo: Palmolive Soap: Cleopatra, Fresh, Palmolive Toothpaste: Colgate, Ultrabrite Washing up liquid: Palmolive |
Contact details: Postal address(es): Colgate-Palmolive 300 Park Avenue New York NY 10022, USA |
Phone number(s): not known Fax number(s): 212-310-2948 |
Online presence:
Web site(s): http://www.colgate.com/ Domain name(s): colgate.com Other: |
|
![[ mcspot logo small ]](../../campaigns/campaigns_pix/mcspot.gif)